I liked this. I wasn’t blown away by it, I just liked it. It was a pleasant way to kill a couple of hours with likable characters as they deal with medical and family drama. The Big Sick doesn’t attempt to focus on any one specific issue, but it does adequately explore its themes so as not to completely waste your time. I was neither overly moved, or found anything laugh-out-loud funny. I was just happy to sit and watch. This was a gentle charmer.

Kumail Nanjiani doesn’t really have the acting shops to pull off the more dramatic moments in the film. But, as I understand it, this story was based on his own personal experiences and that connection to the material shows. He won’t be winning any big acting trophies, but he also doesn’t derail the entire project. Having a great supporting cast (Zoe Kazan and Holly Hunter especially) certainly helped, and for the most part, this film feels very authentic.

The Big Sick is an honestly told story with a lot of heart that never once tries to contrive ridiculous events for a cheap laugh, or regress into a cheesy melodrama in order to provoke a tear.

Movie Prep:

If you’re looking for an honest, well written romantic comedy, then The Big Sick is recommended.